Odyssey White Hot Versa 7 Putter
It’s been awhile since I’ve spent significant time with an Odyssey putter, but one recently really caught my attention. The Odyssey White Hot Versa 7 putter is a modern take on the brand’s classic #7 head shape. It features Odyssey’s famous “fang” mallet shape with a black and white finish for better alignment. It’s also equipped with the famous White Hot insert which is known for its soft feel and consistent roll. The Versa 7 also features a weight-forward design, which helps to improve forgiveness and accuracy.
The Looks
Odyssey’s fang mallet shape is probably one of the most truly original head shapes since the Anser that has been widely adopted. Just look at how many other brands have copied it with their own take on the head shape. I’ve found over the years that this shape frames the ball really nicely and has a much more appealing look to the eye in terms of a mallet putter.
The Versa concept isn’t new to Odyssey and was designed to improve aligning squarely to your target. By creating visual contrast, it’s easier to tell whether or not your face angle is straight. Naturally, doing so will help you be more accurate in hitting your targets and you should make more putts.
How Does it Feel?
The White Hot insert from Odyssey is probably the best insert in the history of golf. Of course, that’s from the perspective of being a player that doesn’t mind inserts. I get where players are coming from that aren’t necessarily fans of the ultra-soft feel that comes from a urethane insert. If you’re cool with urethane inserts, the Versa 7 putter feels soft and responsive at impact. The beauty of the White Hot insert is that it’s soft, but doesn’t feel mushy. It has a very smooth and sweet strike.
You’ll notice two sole weights toward the face and some metal taken out of the fangs. The White Hot Versa 7’s weight-forward design also helps to improve the feel of the putter, making it feel more stable and forgiving. This weighting also helps the face stay square by moving more weight to the edges of the putter. As a result, there’s a noticeable feel of stability and balance through the stroke.
How Does it Sound?
Being it has a urethane insert, the Odyssey White Hot Versa 7 is naturally going to have a softer sound. There’s enough tone to provide precise feedback, but it’s still muted enough for a pleasant response. The sound is also fairly consistent across the face, which helps to build confidence every time you take the club back. I would classify it as a very modest and soft “pop”.
On-Course Performance
A good place to kick off the performance section is the Odyssey White Hot Versa 7 putter’s red multi-material Stroke Lab shaft. Odyssey shortened the steel section which removed seven grams of weight. They also made the shaft more stable with a stiffer profile to help make the putting stroke more consistent. Pair that shaft stability with the sole weights and the putter feels incredibly reliable.
Next, is the obvious “does it really work?” with the Versa paint scheme. While I can’t scientifically speak to anything, I would say I feel like I can line it up pretty well. That said, I feel that way about the #7 shape in general so maybe it isn’t the paint scheme. What I will say is, there’s just something about it. When I set it down behind the ball, it just looks right.
As far as “ball roll” goes, the White Hot Versa 7 produces a pretty tight and true roll. I imagine, once again, the forward weighting helps this by keeping the ball down a bit. (This is typical of a forward center of gravity in golf clubs in general.) In fact, I tested many other shapes in the White Hot Versa line and I felt the 7 was the only one that had such an automatic clean roll.
Final Thoughts – Odyssey White Hot Versa 7 Putter
Allow me to close this review with a slight anecdote rather than a conclusive summary. By no means am I in the market for a new putter. I love my gamer, I putt great with it, and don’t plan on replacing it anytime soon. However, a quick trip to a local big box golf store doesn’t go without a stroll through the giant putting green to check out some putters. I tried all sorts of different putters “just because”, but when I pulled the Odyssey White Hot Versa 7, there was an instant connection. It looked great at address, felt good, and my control was instantly fantastic. Assuming it was just the usual “store putting green” curse, I tried many different options, but nothing captured the same lightning in a bottle.
So while I have no immediate need for this putter, I knew I needed to have it. Who knows what rainy day will come and I’ll just need a change of pace? Whatever the reason, I know this Odyssey White Hot Versa 7 I have on standby will be a reliable and consistent putter I can’t count on if need be. And by no means is this the first Odyssey #7 I’ve owned, but to this putter’s credit, it might be the best one I’ve tried.
